Sprocket chain



Jan. 19,1926. 1,570,014

H. P. STEVENS SPROGKET CHAIN Filed May 2o,' 1924 INVENTOR. hf F .57'EVE/VS BYWJJQCM HAS A TTORNE Y5 Patented Jan. 19, 1926.

HARRY P. STEVENS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SPROCKET CHAIN.

Application filed May 20, 19-24. Serial No. 714,623.

To all 10/ 10712, it may concern Be it known that I, HARRY P. STEVENS, citizen of the United States, residing in the borough of Manhattan, in the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and rsetul In'iprovements in Sprocket Chains, of which the following is a full, clear, and complete description.

My invention relates primarily to sprocket chains and has for its object the provision of an improved device oi this character. ltliore particularly, it relates to a sprocket chain designed to be flexible in one direction only and also one which will prevent the parallel side members or the links from slipping out of aligmnent. In my improved sproctet hain, l have provided the adjacent ends of the side plates with special curiaces arranged to abut against each other, thereby allowing the chain to be flexed in one direction only.

An object of my invention is to provide a sprocket chain in which the links are so arranged when straightened out to constitute a rigid element acting like a still rod and capable of receiving thrusts in that portion not enga 'ing a sprocket wheel or similar device on which it is designed to operate, while atthe same time it is flexible when passing over a sprocket wheel or similar curved element.

Another object is to provide a chain ct this character, which is of simple construction, easily inc.iui'lacturcd, durable and cient in operation.

invention will be fully runlmstood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and its scope will he pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings illustrating my invention;

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a chain e1n bodying my invention;

2 is a similar vie-"w ot' a modified form of my invention and Fig. 8 is a top view applicab e to both Fig. l and Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates the central links having the usual pivot openings 2. 3 and 4; indicate side links or plates which are preferably identical in form. The upper edges of these side plates are preferably more or less concave, as is usual, th se being the edge; the links which come into contact with or are adjacent to the sprocket wheel when the chain passes over the same. The opposite edges of the side plates are shown as being straight, although this form is not essential. The side plates are secured to and held in connection with the central links by pivot pins 5 in the usual manner, as shown.

My invention resides in the novel manner in which the adjacent edges of the side plates engage each other at their ends for the purpose above stated.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the outer edges of the side plates 3 and i are otl'set from their inner edges. In the form of link shown in Fig. 1, the ends of the side plates are inclined relative to a line at right angles to the run of the chain when the links are in alignment, as shown at 6 and 7, whereas in the modified form shown in Fig. 2, the corresponding edges are oiiset in a slightly different manner, as shown at 6 and 7. The latter links are curved at their adjacent edges 6 and 7 from a point below the longitudinal center line of the pivots 5 to the lower side by a curvature forming projections 6 and corresponding recesses 7'.

From this it will be seen, that the ends 6 and 7 of the side plates 3 and 4: abut against each other, ends 6 and recesses 7 of the side plates 3 and l form corresponding projections 8 entering the recess in the adjacent link, thus -forming stops preventing the links of the chain from being displaced transversely in either direction in the plane of the run of the chain, but leaving it free to be flexed in one direction independently of said stops and said abutting ends. It is, of course, understood that the side plates may be given different forms, the principal object being that the adjacent side plates of the links overlap longitudinally forming oft-set projecting portions engaging adjacent ends to form stops preventing displacement transversely, while permitting the chain to be flexed freely in the direction opposite to the sides of the links containing said off-sets. By these constructions, I have found that the links do not slip out of alignment and that they form a Stlff rod-like unit capable of withstanding a longitudinal or straight line thrust.

From a consideration of the above description, taken in connection with the drawings, the various uses and applications oif my invention will be apparent to those I Patent is:

1. A chain comprising pivots and successive links having transverse ends which are adapted to abut on one side of a central longitudinal line connecting said pivots when said links are in alignment, said ends having longitudinall overlapping oflset portions 011 said side to prevent transverse displacement when the end of said links abut, said links being independent of each other when the chain is flexed to separate said ends.

2. A chain comprising pivots and successive links having transverse ends which are adapted to abut on one side of a central longitudinal line connecting said pivots when said links are in alignment, said ends having longitudinally overlapping offset portions. the offsets on opposite sides of the chain being in opposite directions, to prevent. transverse displacement when the links are in alignment, said links being independent of each other when the chain is flexed to separate said ends.

A chain comprising pivots and succcssive links having transverse ends which are adapted to abut with each other on one side of a central longitudinal line connecting said pivots, the abutting end surfaces thereof having portions which are inclined in the same direction relative to lines at right angles to the run of the chain, to prevent t 'ansverse displacement when the links are in alignment.

el. A chain comprising pivots and successive links having transverse ends which a re adapted to abut on one side of a central longitudinal line connecting said pivots, the end surfaces t'hereot having portions which are inclined to lines at right angles to the run of the chain to prevent transverse displace ment when the links are in alignment. the inclination of said surfaces on opposite sides of the chain being in opposite directions.

3. A chain comprising pivots and central connecting blocks or links. and side plates or links having t'ansverse ends which are adapted to abut on one side of a central longitudinal line connecting said )ivots, the end surfaces thereoif being straight but inclined to lines at right angles to the run of the chain, the inclination of said surfaces on opposite sides of the chain being in opposite directions to prevent transverse displacement when the links are in alignment.

HARRY P. STEVENS. 

